Home Dialysis Central update
[Vol.4, No.3, March 23, 2007]
Happy Spring, everyone! Why not celebrate National Kidney Month by giving our FREE Home Dialysis Central POSTCARD HANDOUTS to dialyzors and coworkers? Order yours today!
Attend a virtual home dialysis conference
Couldn't make it to last month's 2-day Australia and New Zealand Home Haemodialysis Workshop? No problem, mate—you can see the slides online! Learn from Dr. John Agar; Deb Brouwer, RN; Dr. Robert Lindsay; Dr. John Moran; and many others. It's the next best thing to being there.
Protect the peritoneal membrane to do PD longer
A new review article suggests replacing some glucose-based dialysate exchanges with icodextrin, resting the peritoneum, using bicarbonate or pyruvate as a buffer, and treating infections immediately as ways to help protect the peritoneal membrane. Read the abstract.
Intensive hemo helps heart health
After a year of short daily home HD 6 days/week or nocturnal home HD 3.5 nights/week, patients had no change in 24 hour blood pressure vs. controls on standard in-center HD. But those getting "intensive" (longer or more frequent) HD needed fewer blood pressure pills, their left ventricular mass decreased, and they had better phosphate control with fewer binders. Those who stayed on standard HD did worse in each area. Read the abstract of this recent study.
Nocturnal HD improves cognitive function
Fuzzy thinking on in-center HD? A new study suggests that nocturnal HD can help. Patients who switched to nocturnal HD had a 22% fewer cognitive symptoms and 32% better attention and working memory after 6 months. Read the abstract.
Longer survival with dialysis at home
A Swiss study matched patients on conventional HD (CHD) to peers on home HD (HHD). Those on HHD with the same age, comorbidities, smoking habits, and history of heart or blood vessel disease had fewer hospital days, fewer surgeries—and significantly longer survival at 5, 10, and 20 years. Read the abstract.
Topic of the month: anemia, EPO, kidney failure—and you
If you're on dialysis, you most likely have anemia—a shortage of red blood cells. And, you probably take EPO to treat it. New studies have led to a warning by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about EPO. Don't panic!
What is Method I or Method II payment for home dialysis supplies and services?
Click here to learn the answers to this & other questions about Medicare payment for PD and home hemo.
Read all about it!
Review home dialysis-related news, courtesy of Nephrology News & Issues. This week's stories include:
- Hartwell: FDA actions 'reckless' on ESA warnings
- DaVita says it will review new FDA ESA labeling
- Dialysis Corporation of America announces acquisition of PA dialysis clinic
- Exercise while on dialysis is beneficial
Featured link: nocturnal home hemodialysis
Australia has embraced nocturnal home hemo with a vengeance, and you can learn all about it on Dr. John Agar's site, from Geelong, Victoria. We bet you've never seen hemo compared to football before (or is it soccer?). Learn about dialysis issues, safety, funding, optimal treatment, and much more.
Find the site or this eNewsletter helpful? FORWARD THIS E-MAIL and encourage others to join Home Dialysis Central.